The Most Important Things to Do After a Chicago Truck Accident
Nearly 500,000 truck accidents occur each year. The vast majority of the time in a motor vehicle accident involving a truck, it is a truck that collides with a car.
In fact, about three in four fatal car crashes involve a large truck. If you are in a truck accident, you may be eligible for damages to cover your losses if it is determined that a negligent truck driver caused your accident.
If you suffered injuries from a traffic accident involving a truck, our team of Chicago, IL truck accident lawyers are here for you. Don’t let your truck accident injuries sideline you emotionally and financially while you recover physically.
The experienced truck accident attorneys from our personal injury firm can review your case for free and help you determine whether you have a valid case against the negligent truck driver and/or the trucking company.
In this Article
Damages Available for Truck Accident Cases
Receiving compensation for damages caused by truck accidents could be crucial to truck accident victims especially if the injuries are severe. Our Chicago truck accident attorneys has successfully settled many truck accident cases.
Successful Settlements
As just one example, our law firm successfully recovered $3 million for a truck accident case where a garbage truck made an illegal turn and struck a man. Depending on your case, you may be entitled to receive a settlement for your accident. You could be awarded compensation that could cover damages and expenses such as:
Ambulance transportation
Emergency room services
Hospital care
Surgeries
Physical therapy
Lost Wages
If you had to take time off work for medical treatment and recovery, you may also be compensated for lost wages. Your experienced truck accident lawyer can review your case to give you a better understanding of what you stand to gain from your truck accident claim.
Types of Trucking Accidents
According to statistics from the Department of Transportation, it is estimated that half a million trucking collisions occur every year, leading to approximately 5,000 fatalities. Some of the most common types of semi truck accidents include:
Regardless of the type of trucking accident you may be involved in, the chances of serious injuries or fatalities are higher than in a normal car accident. This is because trucks are much heavier and collide with more force than standard cars even at lower speeds.
That is why cars need to keep much more distance from trucks while on the road when possible. Cautious and defensive driving around trucks is always recommended and could help prevent a potentially serious or even fatal accident.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Many factors contribute to truck accidents. Some of the most common ones include:
Adverse weather conditions
Vehicle failure
Impaired driving
Distracted driving
These factors exist for normal motor vehicle drivers but, for the reasons stated below, are even more dangerous and can cause greater harm if they result in an accident.
Stopping Distance
Truck accidents happen for a variety of reasons. However, the length of time it takes a truck to stop is one of the main contributing factors to accidents.
Because a truck can change its weight significantly depending on how it’s loaded, its stopping distance changes with every trip. This means that if a truck driver needs to stop suddenly, it may take much longer for it to lower its speed or even come to a stop. This extra time it needs to react to conditions on the road could be very deceptive and, thus, dangerous to car drivers if they are following too close to a truck. This example of truck driver error is all too common.
Truck Driver Fatigue
Driving while fatigued is dangerous to do for everyone while driving any kind of vehicle. A lot of attention has been paid to the number of hours that truck drivers work. Truck drivers may be at greater risk of being in a trucking accident because they are overworked and too tired to drive safely.
While driver fatigue is one condition that contributes to trucking accidents, motorists end up calling Chicago, IL truck accident lawyers for several other reasons as well.
Other Motorists
Truck drivers try to maintain a reasonable distance from other vehicles since it takes a long time for larger trucks to stop. This is especially true when carrying unusually heavy loads. However, defensive truck drivers have no control over other motorists on the road.
Normal car drivers often drive aggressively around trucks, travel in the truck’s blind spots, and pass from both sides. As a result, trucks frequently rear-end smaller vehicles through no fault of their own. If the accident involves a rollover, the chances of fatalities become much higher.
Oftentimes, a combination of multiple factors leads to truck crashes. Our truck accident lawyers in Chicago can review your case to determine the cause of the accident that injured you.
Determining Liability in a Truck Accident
Just as truck accidents can have many causes, multiple parties can also be liable for the accident. Like car accidents or any other kind of accident it may not always be clear if one party involved has all the responsibility for the accident.
Example Responsible Parties in Commercial Vehicle Accidents Cases
Responsibility for causing a truck accident can fall on a variety of individuals or organizations, including:
The driver of the truck or trailer
The owner of the truck or trailer
The people or trucking companies leasing the truck from the owner
The manufacturer of the vehicle, tires, or other parts that may be defective
The loader or shipper of the truck’s goods
We Can Help While You Recover
If you’ve suffered from truck accident injuries, we understand how frustrating it can be to determine liability while you try to recover from potentially serious injuries.
Truck accident lawyers in Chicago, IL can handle this step for you and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses. We at The Kryder Law Group, LLC will take care of the process so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
Benefits of Hiring a Chicago Trucking Accident Lawyer
If you were hurt in a wreck that involved a truck, it is in your best interest to team up with a Chicago truck accident lawyer. Coordinating the investigation and the subsequent lawsuit can be a difficult task, especially if you are recovering from injuries from the accident.
Your experienced tractor-trailer accident lawyer can:
Investigate the cause of your accident
Identify the responsible parties
Collect and preserve evidence
Total your losses related to the crash
File your claim within the statute of limitations
Negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company on your behalf
Represent you in court if necessary
We Can Explain All the Processes You Need to Know About
Having skilled trucking accident attorneys working on your case means that you can focus on your rehabilitation while we handle your legal needs. We can answer any questions you may have about the legal proceedings and explain everything you need to know about truck accidents and how they can be successfully settled.
When to Consult an Attorney After a Tractor-Trailer Accident
Moving quickly to begin the process of filing your trucking accident claim can be imperative to your case and any potential compensation. You have a limited amount of time before you will no longer be able to file a claim and recover damages.
Statute of Limitations
The state of Illinois only allows you to pursue compensation for personal injury cases within two years of the accident. This means you only have two years from the date of the truck crash to begin filing your claim. Other deadlines may also apply to your case depending on your particular situation.
Move Quickly to Protect Your Rights
In every accident situation, it is important to move quickly to protect your rights and preserve evidence that may be lost over time. This can be difficult if you’re also in the process of recovering from injuries especially if those injuries are severe. Your lawyer can ensure your case is initiated in a timely fashion while you’re still in recovery so you don’t miss out on the settlement you need and deserve.
Call a Truck Accident Attorney in Chicago Today
Reach out to The Kryder Law Group, LLC to speak with a truck accident attorney in Chicago. We are available for in-home or in-facility consults if you are unable to travel.
Our highly experienced lawyers are here to fight for your rights and we will do our best to ensure you obtain the compensation you need for the injuries sustained from your truck accident.
Get a Free Consultation
Contact the experienced Chicago truck accident lawyers at The Kryder Law Group today for a free consultation where we can evaluate your situation to see how much your case might be worth.
What to Expect from The Kryder Law Group Consultation
Here is what you will get during your free consultation:
We evaluate case and look for strengths and weaknesses.
We let you know what compensation you are entitled to receive.
We evaluate the existence and types of available insurance coverage.
We discuss the serious nature of your injuries and whether you may need to see specialists to help you recover.
We evaluate whether testimony from an expert, such as an accident reconstructionist, is needed for your case.
We let you know how long your case will likely take to complete.
(312) 223-1700